Wildlife and whale watching Argentina: Peninsula Valdes

  • Soak up the scenery of the Peninsula Valdes | Travel Nation

    Soak up the scenery of the Peninsula Valdes

  • Watch amongst hundreds of Magellan penguins, Argentina | Travel Nation

    Watch amongst hundreds of Magellan penguins

  • Spot whales breaching in the waves of Peninsula Valdes | Travel Nation

    Spot whales breaching in the waves of Peninsula Valdes

  • Stop to watch grazing guanacos on the Peninsula Valdes | Travel Nation

    Stop to watch grazing guanacos on the Peninsula Valdes

  • See dozens of baby elephant seals on the Peninsula Valdes | Travel Nation

    See dozens of baby elephant seals on the Peninsula Valdes

  • Watch Magellan penguins nesting on the coastline in Argentina | Travel Nation

    Watch Magellan penguins nesting on the coastline

  • See elephant seals playing in the shallows of Northern Patagonia | Travel Nation

    See elephant seals playing in the shallows of Northern Patagonia

  • Set off on stunning cliff walks on Peninsula Valdes | Travel Nation

    Set off on stunning cliff walks on Peninsula Valdes

Trip ideas

Duration(in days): 4

From: Puerto Madryn

To: Puerto Madryn

From

£615

Exc. International flights (per person, based on 2 sharing)

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or Call 01273 320580

See more ideas for: Argentina

Peninsula Valdes is, without doubt, one of the wildlife highlights of Argentina. Located in Northern Patagonia, it offers the opportunity to see some of nature’s largest marine mammals in their natural environment. Home to an important breeding population of the endangered southern right whale, it’s also a great place to spot southern elephant seals and southern sea lions. Ideal for nature lovers, the Peninsula Valdes can provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see some of the best wildlife in the world, including dolphins and orcas, as well as numerous species of birds and land mammals. This itinerary is the perfect introduction to the beauty of this region and its natural wildlife. You will spend three nights in Puerto Madryn, taking daily excursions to the peninsula and to Punta Tombo, with its colony of Magellan penguins.               

Our Argentina whale watching and wildlife tour can be tailored to suit your requirements. Simply contact one of our consultants to start planning your dream trip.

Highlights

  • Take a boat trip to watch southern right whales              
  • Walk amongst thousands of Magellan Penguins              
  • See Magellan Penguins chicks hatch (seasonal)
  • Explore the remote and beautiful scenery of Northern Patagonia               

 

Day 1: Arrive Puerto Madryn        

On arrival, you will be met at Trelew airport by your guide and transferred to your accommodation in Puerto Madryn. This will take approximately an hour. Once you have checked into your accommodation, you can spend the rest of the day at your own leisure.           

Day 2: Peninsula Valdes Tour       

You’ll enjoy an early breakfast at the hotel before joining your group for an unforgettable wildlife tour. The first part of the drive will betake you through the flat grey expanse of Patagonian steppes. In order to reach the national park and nature reserve, you will cross a narrow isthmus where you can look out over the San José Gulf. First, you will encounter colonies of elephant seal at Caleta Valdes. Here, the surrounding rocks and dry grasses form a natural habitat for storks, guanaco deer, armadillos, Patagonian hares, foxes, eagles and many other species.

Next, you will continue to Puerto Piramides, a small village built at the beginning of the 20th century, now famous for the herds of southern right whales that frequent its bay from August to November. The whales come here every year to mate and breed. You’ll take a boat trip into the bay (paid locally), so that you can watch these immense creatures gliding through the water. At the end of the day, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Puerto Madryn.

Day 3: Punta Tombo   

After breakfast you will be picked up by your guide and start the drive south towards the natural reserve of Punta Tombo, home to the largest colony of breeding Magellan penguins in South America. Their numbers reach over half a million during peak season, as baby penguins begin to hatch in November. Here, you will be able to walk amongst the penguins, follow them, see how they feed their babies, observe their courtship rituals and watch their comical waddle to the sea. At the end of the tour, you will be driven back to your hotel in Puerto Madryn.               

Day 4: Depart Puerto Madryn        

After breakfast at the hotel, you will check out of your hotel and be transferred to Trelew airport for your onward flight.

 

On the Peninsula Valdes, wildlife experiences that can be enjoyed all year round, but we still suggest that you time your visit carefully, depending on your hopes for the trip. Southern right whales can be spotted from June to December and Magellan penguins from September to April. Dolphins are present from December to March, while orcas tend to be seen most frequently in March and April. Sea lions and elephant seals are in the peninsula all year round in varying numbers.

This itinerary is purely a suggestion, and can be tailor-made to your requirements, so please contact us with your dates and we’ll put together a bespoke quotation for you.

What's included
  • 3 nights’ accommodation with breakfast             
  • Full day shared tour to Peninsula Valdes             
  • Full Day shared tour to Punta Tombo    
  • All airport transfers on a private basis  
Not included
  • Any meals not mentioned in the itinerary          
  • Boat trip in Peninsula Valdes as this has to be paid for locally   
  • All expenses of a personal nature          

3 nights in 4* standard accommodation.

Hotels in this category include:

  • Dazzler Puerto Madryn